- Robin S. Sharma Risk Management Open Enrollment ...
Transcript of - Robin S. Sharma Risk Management Open Enrollment ...
Your source for timely Benefits & Safety related news | Volume 6, Issue 3
Risk Management Staff
Chuck Richardson Director of Risk Management 334-625-2427
Benefits Division
Faye Gamble Employee Benefits Administrator
334-625-2692
Erika Levett Benefits Coordinator
Kim Neese Retirement Specialist
Angela Berry Benefits Assistant
City Hall 103 N. Perry St.
Ph: 334-625-3692 Fax: 334-625-4410
Safety & Claims Division
Joe Hicks Safety & Claims Administrator 334-625-2293
Georgia Middleton Claims Adjuster 334-625-2015
Stephanie Cosgrove Safety & Claims Assistant 334-625-3015
Elaine Rodgers Safety & Claims Assistant 334-625-2298
City Lot 934 N. Ripley St.
Fax: 334-625-3599
New Employee Orientation
*** New Employee
Orientation video is available online.
Monthly reminders are sent to department
payroll clerks.
***
In This Issue
Open Enrollment
———
Retirement Update
———
Voluntary Employee & Dependent Life
Insurance Reminder
———
Online Benefit Change Instructions
———
EAP Webinar
———
Amazon Pharmacy & PillPack
———
COVID-19 Vaccine Facts
———
Nutrition-Focused Food
———
Caring For The Caregiver
———
CareHere No Show Reminder
———
Thinking About Quitting?
1 April 2021
“If you only take small risks, you are only entitled to a small life.” - Robin S. Sharma
Open Enrollment Announcement The 2021 Open Enrollment period will be held May 3, 2021 - June 30, 2021 with
an October 1, 2021 effective date.
Similar to last year, the Open Enrollment presentation will be a video posted on
the City’s website to be viewed at your convenience. Your department payroll
clerk will provide enrollment instructions with the Colonial Benefit Counselors.
During this Open Enrollment period you can enroll, cancel, or make changes to
the following benefits:
Core Benefits Voluntary Colonial Products
Group Health Plan, Vision Insurance,
Flexible Spending Accounts, Voluntary
Employee & Dependent Life Insurance,
and Deferred Compensation
Group Specified Disease, Whole/Term
Life Insurance, Dental, Disability,
Accident, Cancer, and Hospital
Confinement
Reminder: Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts will
start October 1, 2021 this year.
ALL OPEN ENROLLMENT DETAILS WILL BE UPDATED IN THE OPEN ENROLLMENT SECTION OF OUR WEBPAGE:
www.montgomeryal.gov/work/city-employee-resources/benefits/how-to-enroll
Retirement Update The City’s Retirement Specialist, Kim Neese, is now under the Risk Management
Department Benefits Division. Her number will remain the same 334-625-2018.
Employees wishing to retire must contact Kim, 30-90 days prior to retirement
date, to submit your application and other forms. You can only retire on the first
day of a month.
Voluntary Employee & Dependent Life Insurance Reminder
As a reminder, the new Voluntary Employee & Dependent Life Insurance
coverage through MetLife went into effect February 1st.
Employees who were not already enrolled had the opportunity to enroll during
the Special Enrollment period (February 1st - March 31st) with a May 1st effective
date.
Going forward, anyone - with the exception of new hires - wishing to enroll in this
benefit will have to complete a medical questionnaire. New Hires can enroll
within 30 days of hire without completing the questionnaire.
Online Benefit Change Instructions
Benefit changes made outside of Open
Enrollment can only be made within 30
days of a qualifying event.
Employees needing to make changes to
their benefits will need to complete the
appropriate forms on the Benefits webpage
and either e-mail, fax, or hand-mail forms
to the Benefits Office.
Forms for the following benefits can be
completed on the webpage - Group Health
Plan, Vision Plan, Flexible Spending
Accounts, Colonial Life, Aflac, Liberty
National, and Employee & Dependent Life.
Other forms available online are the AHA
Private Physician, Tobacco Attestation, and
Prescription Prior Authorization and Drug
Claim forms.
*Visit www.montgomeryal.gov *Click City Employees at the top *Click Benefits on the left-hand side *Click Benefit Resources
Qualifying Event What You Need
Marriage or Divorce Marriage License or Divorce Decree
Birth of Adoption Birth Certificate or Adoption Records
Death of a Dependent Death Certificate
Gain or Loss of Other
Coverage
Proof of Coverage Letter Showing Coverage
Begin/End Date
Employee Group Health Plan Form
Enroll - Select New Contract as the Nature of Application
Adding Dependents - Select Add Dependent as the Nature
of Application. All current dependents should be included
on the form in addition to the new dependent.
Removing Dependents - Select Remove Dependent as the
Nature of Application. Do not include the dependent you
are removing on the form.
Changing Plans - Select Plan Change as the Nature of
Application. Select which medical plan you wish to transfer
to.
The Effective Date will be the date of the qualifying event.
2
Vision Enrollment/Change Form
Select the reason for the application at the top-right corner.
The Effective Date will be the 1st of the month following
receipt of your form.
FSA Enrollment/Change Form
Select the Qualifying Event for your change.
Select the Type of Change Requested.
Calculate Your New Election by dividing the total annual
amount by the remaining paychecks until September 30,
2021. Example: $1,000 annual election beginning May 1st has 11
remaining paychecks. Your new pay period amount is $90.91.
The Effective Date will be the 1st of the month following
receipt of your form.
3
April EAP Webinar
Living Debt Free
This webinar is an interactive session that teaches how to break the chain of debt, so you can start building wealth and
enjoying life. We will walk you through the process step by step, so you can start living debt free.
The webinar is available all month long on American Behavioral Wellbeing Website.
Visit www.americanbehavioral.com, click Member Login, sign in to the Wellbeing Website. Company Name -
Montgomery
Click the 2021 Monthly Webinar Calendar to view upcoming webinars.
Amazon Pharmacy and PillPack
Amazon announced a new pharmacy offering, Amazon Pharmacy. Amazon Pharmacy’s fulfillment is managed through
PillPack, an independently operated subsidiary of Amazon, and officially recognized as “PillPack by Amazon Pharmacy.”
Both Amazon Pharmacy and PillPack are powered by the same pharmacy - what’s the difference?
Amazon Pharmacy has the capability to fill common prescriptions and will deliver the member’s medication right to
their door. These prescriptions are provided in standard prescription bottles.
PillPack was established prior to Amazon Pharmacy and remains a distinct service for customers managing multiple
daily medications for chronic conditions. The medications are sorted into individual packets and delivered to the
member.
Amazon Pharmacy and PillPack participate in the Prime Therapeutics pharmacy network and is an option for City
employees.
If you are interested in transferring your prescriptions to either Amazon Pharmacy or PillPack, it’s important to know that
Amazon Pharmacy and PillPack are considered retail pharmacies that currently only offer a 30-day prescription option, do
not offer automatic refills and cannot dispense specialty drugs.
If members are receiving 90-day supplies from a different pharmacy and choose to move their prescription to Amazon
Pharmacy or PillPack, their copay could change from a 90-day copay to a retail 30-day copay.
More information online pharmacy.amazon.com.
COVID-19 Vaccine Facts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama has published two COVID-19 Vaccine Flyers. Click each picture below to view each
flyer. These are also posted in the Coronavirus Resources Regarding Your Health Benefits section on the City Benefit
Resources webpage. www.montgomeryal.gov/work/city-employee-resources/benefits/benefit-resources
4
You have spent the past few months focused on who you are
by exploring your “why”, identity, and self-talk. With this
foundation in place, shift your focus to what you do. What
you eat, how often you exercise, and how well you sleep all
play a role in your health and wellness. Let’s start with
learning about nutritious food choices.
Food has a powerful impact on your health and how you feel.
If you nourish your body well, you can have more energy and
reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases. If you don’t
eat well, you can run low on energy and increase your risk for
health conditions. If you give food up altogether, you may
survive anywhere from 8 days to two months. However, if you
also go without water, you may only survive three days.
There are many foods to choose from and new foods hit the
grocery store shelves all the time. You are not alone if you
don’t always choose healthy foods.
Here are five guidelines from the updated Dietary Guidelines
for Americans to help you choose foods that can support your
health.
Aim for healthy eating patters as a general rule over your
lifetime.
Select nutritious foods and drinks that you enjoy, that
honor your culture, and that fit into your budget.
Enjoy foods from all food groups. If you exclude a food
group, be sure to replace the nutrition found in that food
group.
Eat the right amount of food to fuel your body and mind.
Choose less added sugars, saturated fats, sodium (salt),
and alcohol.
Connect with a certified health coach to find new ways to
choose foods that you enjoy and that keep you feeling
satisfied, energized, and healthy. According to the 2020 Food and Health Survey, Americans
choose foods mainly for how they taste and what they cost.
Only 60% of people choose foods for healthfulness.
CareHere is here to support you. Schedule an appointment by calling 877.423.1330 or using our CareHere app.
WELLNESS
WEBINAR
TUESDAY, APRIL 13
12:00PM CT
Just like your dream car, your body’s performance depends
on the fuel you choose.
During this 30-minute webinar, you will explore ways that food is fuel for
your body. You will review three strategies to choose foods that are
premium fuel to help you feel your best and keep your body healthy.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Balanced Living
Caring for the Caregiver In Oregon, Nicki makes weekly phone calls to her sister Rebecca,
who has Alzheimer’s. Rebecca lives 3,000 miles away in New York
City.
Stephanie and Doug share a New Jersey home with Stephanie’s frail
mother. They give her round-the-clock aid.
And Ruth, who lives in Maryland, does the food shopping and
cooking for her neighbor Scott, 93.
These people have one thing in common: They’re family caregivers.
“Family caregiving is the fastest-growing unpaid and often
unacknowledged occupation in this country,” says Lorraine Sailor,
operations coordinator at Children of Aging Parents, a nonprofit
charitable organization based in Levittown, PA.
A recent survey by the National Family Caregivers Association
(NFCA) found more than 54 million people give care each year.
About 56 percent are women, according to the survey.
Caregivers come in all shapes and sizes. They can be adult children,
spouses, siblings, friends, or neighbors, who help with daily activities
such as bathing, feeding, and clothing. The caregiver may be the only
person who can take a loved one to doctors’ appointments. The long-
distance caregiver may call weekly, help with expenses, or support
the main caregiver.
More than one relative helps out in some families, but most
caregivers do it alone. The NFCA survey found three out of four
caregivers don’t get consistent family help.
“Caregiving can be a truly rewarding experience,” says NFCA co-
founder and President Suzanne Mintz. It can be a time to heal old
wounds, end conflicts, and improve relationships. It can be a chance
to serve a loved one.
But caregiving also can be demanding and time-consuming. It may
even raise your risk of stress-related disorders.
“Many of us believe in honoring our parents and take our marriage
vows seriously,” Ms. Mintz says. “But the work of caregiving goes
well beyond what we can do. Asking for help is a sign of your love
and caring, not of weakness and shame. It is much more than a one-
person job.”
How To Succeed
These tips are drawn from professional, government, and charitable
groups: the American Society on Aging, the Federal Administration
on Aging, the Family Caregiver Alliance, Children of Aging Parents,
and the National Family Caregivers Association.
Don’t Go It Alone
Ask others for help. Start with family and friends. Keep less
engaged family members informed. Set up a family conference,
seek suggestions, and talk about disagreements.
Ask families with similar problems how they handles them.
Involve the person you’re caring for. If possible, help the person
take responsibility and join in decisions.
Learn about your loved one’s condition. Find specialists for
information and guidance.
Tap local, state, and national resources. They can offer help with
transportation, nutrition, or day care.
Watch For Problems
Mental and physical signs of caregiver stress:
A lot of anger or fear
A tendency to overreact
Feeling depressed, isolated, or overburdened
Thoughts of guilt, shame, or inadequacy
Taking on more than you can handle
Headaches
Digestive upsets
Weight loss or gain
Trouble sleeping
Fatigue
Illness
Take Time Out
Be good to yourself. Take time away from caregiving and don’t
neglect your personal and professional:
Gets lots of rest and exercise
Enjoy relaxing music
Eat nutritious meals
Visit with friends and plan leisure activities
Do deep breathing
Read a magazine
Don’t abuse alcohol or drugs, or overeat
Keep a sense of humor
Write your feelings in a journal
Do spiritual meditation
Set limits on what you can and cannot do
Realize you’re doing the best you can
Join a support group
Use community resources for help
Get Help
It’s OK not to have all the answers. Seek help when you need it
most:
Call a support hotline. Just having someone listen may help.
Speak with a counselor. A professional can help you understand your situation.
Talk with your religious adviser.
Attend a support group. Groups can explain your loved one’s condition, ease tension, and provide a sense of what’s important.
5
6
Caring for the Caregiver
continued...
General Assistance
AARP: Advocacy group with publications on aging, including recent legislation.
Children of Aging Parents: information on caregiving and referrals to support groups, care managers, and other resources.
Family Caregiver Alliance: Covers medical, social, public policy, and caregiving issues inked to brain impairments.
National Council on Aging: Information and advocacy.
National Family Caregivers Association: Dedicated to aiding caregivers through education, research, and support.
National Institute on Aging: Conducts and supports research, training, and information on aging.
Well Spouse Foundation: Offers support to people caring for a sick spouse who need emotional care themselves.
Religious organizations often provide additional assistance.
The StayWell Company, LLC
Good To Know
CareHere No Show Policy Reminder
The CareHere No Show Policy was established October 1,
2014 in order to utilize the Wellness Centers more
efficiently.
This policy states any employee, or dependent of that
employee, who fails to attend a scheduled appointment or
is more than 10 minutes late for an appointment will be
considered a No Show.
After the first No Show, the employee is sent a warning
letter. Any subsequent No Show thereafter, the employee is
charged a $25 No Show Fee deducted from their paycheck.
You can cancel up to 10 minutes before your scheduled
appointment either by calling CareHere, online, or the
CareHere mobile app.
Thinking About Quitting?
The U.S. Surgeon General has said, “Smoking cessation (stopping smoking) represents the single most important step that
smokers can take to enhance the length and quality of their lives.” Quitting is hard, but you can increase your chances of
success with help. Here are some different tools you can use to help you quit now. Remember there isn’t one right way to
quit so find out which quit smoking method might work for you.
www.montgomeryal.gov/work/city-employee-resources/benefits
CareHere offers a “Be A Quitter” Tobacco Cessation
Program for all insured employees who wish to break free
from tobacco.
This comprehensive 8-week program leads you through
designing your personal plan to quit or cut back on
nicotine. It is based on psychology, the theory of behavior
change, and addiction research. You decide your pace as
you build your skills to quit and remain tobacco-free.
For more information, contact your CareHere medical
provider 1-877-423-1330 who will schedule you a tobacco
health coach appointment.
The Alabama Tobacco Quitline (1-800-QUIT NOW) is
a free telephone and online coaching service for any
Alabamian ready to quit tobacco.
Information, referrals, and counseling are confidential, and
sessions are on a schedule convenient for the caller. Those
who enroll in the counseling program can receive, if
medically eligible, up to eight weeks of nicotine patches to
assist in quitting. Call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669)
or visit www.quitnowalabama.com to enroll in the
program. All services are free for Alabama residents.